Israel raises travel warning to Turkey, urges citizens leave

JERUSALEM – Israel has issued a new travel advisory for Turkey, warning its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible and avoid any traveling there.

The "high concrete threat" is the second-highest warning level that Israel can issue. It raises the directive issued after three Israeli tourists were killed in an Istanbul suicide bombing earlier in March.

The National Security Council advised on Monday that "the risk of additional attacks from terrorist organizations is rising, with an emphasis on the Islamic State, on tourist destinations and in general Israeli tourists."

Israel has the same level warning as Turkey for Tunisia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has given the highest warning levels for Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Somalia, Sudan and Libya.